Kicking Accuracy Research Articles

Designing a Test to Measure the Speed and Accuracy of Circular Crescent Kick from Stance by Tai Kwan do Players for Various Categories

Designing a Test to Measure the Speed and Accuracy of Circular Crescent Kick from Stance by Tai Kwan do Players for Various Categories

Kinematic patterns associated with accuracy of the drop punt kick in Australian Football

Research into the kinematics of movement associated with the accuracy of the drop punt kick in Australian Football has been limited. The aim of this study was to examine pelvic and lower limb kinematics during the performance of a drop punt kick, in order to identify factors associated with accurate kicking performance. Ten professional Australian Football League (AFL) players performed 20 drop punt kicks towards a target situated 15m away, using their preferred leg. A three-dimensional motion analysis system was used to record the kicking motion from heel contact of the support limb through to ball contact. The subjects were divided into an accurate group (> or =50% accuracy; n=5) and an inaccurate group (<50% accuracy; n=5) based on target hit rate. Kinematic profiles for both kicking and support limbs were compared between the two groups. Results showed that the accurate group had significantly greater hip flexion in both limbs and greater knee flexion in the support limb throughout the kicking movement. The accurate group also had significantly greater anterior pelvic tilt at heel contact (accurate 20.8 degrees ; inaccurate 12.7 degrees ). These data show that kinematic differences in lower limb joint angles may be related to kicking accuracy.

A valid and reliable method for measuring the kicking accuracy of soccer players

Kicking accuracy is an important component of soccer performance. We constructed a plywood target measuring 243.5cm wide x 122cm high. Carbon paper applied to the surface of the target allowed measurement by 2 raters from a bull's-eye to 10 ball marks left by kicks. Intraclass correlation coefficients with 95% confidence intervals were used to determine the intra- and interrater reliability of the measurement to each ball mark. Mean and median distances from bulls-eye to ball mark were 89.9cm and 97.9cm, respectively (range, 25.7 to 150.75cm). The intraclass correlation coefficients for intra- and interrater reliability were 0.99. The root mean square error of measurement indicated that accuracy of measurement was within 0.15cm. These results suggest that our method of assessing kicking accuracy is a valid and reliable tool for analysing performance. Because this tool closely replicates kicking into a soccer goal, we feel that it also has validity. To our knowledge, no other tool or measure (e.g.. number of shots on goal or number of goals per game) has comparable validity and reliability. This method can be used as a training tool and for future investigations of kicking accuracy.

Kinematic factors associated with accuracy of the drop-punt kick in Australia Rules Football

Kinematic factors associated with accuracy of the drop-punt kick in Australia Rules Football

Use of Selected Reinforcers to Improve the Ball Kicking of Youths with Profound Mental Retardation

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of preferred verbal praise and music reinforcement on improving the soccer kick performances of youths with profound mental retardation (PMR). Subjects (N = 15) were randomly assigned to three groups. Based on visual inspection and the split-middle technique, all three groups (i.e., control, verbal praise, and music reinforcer) improved performances in their kicking accuracy. Comparison of graphed mean data of the three groups, by visual inspection and the split-middle technique, showed that the verbal praise and music reinforcement groups had higher scores than the control group. Visual inspection of 2-week follow-up data revealed that both experimental groups maintained higher scores than the control group. In addition, all of the subjects had the ability to generalize this kicking skill into a physical recreation environment.

Self-Concept and Skill Development in Youth Soccer Players

The purpose of this study was to examine multidimensional self-concept and skill development changes in soccer players after a 15-hr. soccer camp (3 hr. per day, 5 days a week). Players ( n = 54), 8 to 14 yr. of age, were pre- and posttested on four skill tests (dribbling, juggling, wall volley, and accuracy of kick), the 1985 Harter Self-perception Profile, and a soccer self-concept scale. Significant improvements occurred on the wall volley item, physical appearance scale of the Harter Profile, and the self-concept scale. The significant improvement in the soccer self-concept supported the multidimensional theory of self-concept. Subscale means in our study were slightly higher than those of Harter. Comparisons of players' perceptions of ability and coaches' ratings indicated that older players (11 to 14 yr.) and coaches agreed more on ability than younger players (8 to 10 yr.) and coaches.

Skill Level and Audience Effects on Performance of a Karate Drill

Abstract Skilled (12 male, 4 female) and unskilled (13 male, 4 female) American karate students kicked a target as many times as possible for four 15-s trials. They performed this multiple standing roundhouse kick drill both in the presence of an evaluative audience of karate experts and without the audience present. The presence of an audience had no effect on accurate kicks or errors for skilled subjects but did reduce the frequency of accurate kicks for unskilled performers. Several measures of socially influenced motivation failed to discriminate performers who would be more or less sensitive to the audience. Results are interpreted as consistent with social facilitation predictions and indicated that unskilled subjects sacrificed desired performance in order to avoid an increase in errors.

The Skin Diseases

Mechanosensation, one of the fastest sensory modalities, mediates diverse behaviors including those pertinent for survival. It is important to understand how mechanical stimuli trigger defensive behaviors. Here, we report that <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> adult flies exhibit a kicking response against invading parasitic mites over their wing margin with ultrafast speed and high spatial precision. Mechanical stimuli that mimic the mites9 movement evoke a similar kicking behavior. Further, we identified a TRPV channel, Nanchung, and a specific Nanchung-expressing neuron under each recurved bristle that forms an array along the wing margin as being essential sensory components for this behavior. Our electrophysiological recordings demonstrated that the mechanosensitivity of recurved bristles requires Nanchung and Nanchung-expressing neurons. Together, our results reveal a novel neural mechanism for innate defensive behavior through mechanosensation. <b>SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT</b> We discovered a previously unknown function for recurved bristles on the <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> wing. We found that when a mite (a parasitic pest for <i>Drosophila</i>) touches the wing margin, the fly initiates a swift and accurate kick to remove the mite. The fly head is dispensable for this behavior. Furthermore, we found that a TRPV channel, Nanchung, and a specific Nanchung-expressing neuron under each recurved bristle are essential for its mechanosensitivity and the kicking behavior. In addition, touching different regions of the wing margin elicits kicking directed precisely at the stimulated region. Our experiments suggest that recurved bristles allow the fly to sense the presence of objects by touch to initiate a defensive behavior (perhaps analogous to touch-evoked scratching; Akiyama et al., 2012).